Gate for subrailways and the like.



C. A. WEST.

GATE FOR SUBRAILWAYS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEZZ. 19!?- 1,259,060.

Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E3 1 Luau tow C. A. WEST.

GATE FOR SUBRAILWAYS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 1912.

1,259,060. Patented Mar. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

5' n uc'utoz NFEE CARL ALBERT WEST, or soranavrnnn, MASSACHUSETTS.

GATE FOR SUBRAILWAYS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed June 22, 1917.

the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved gate for sub-railways, and one ofthe objects of the invention is to provide an improved gate mounted inguides and suspended from the upper ends of the movable members of theoperating means, whereby the gate may be lowered in a position adjacentthe side wall of the trench, in which the rails are disposed.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means, eitherpneumatic or hydraulic means for raising and lowering said gate.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for holdingthe gate raised, thereby preventing pressure from overcoming thepneumatic or hydraulic means and causing the gate to lower.

A further object of the invention is the rovision of means for steadyingand guiding the gate as it rises and lowers, torelieve the strain on therising movable members.

In practical fields the details of construction may necessitatealterations falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts ashereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings, and claimed.

In the drawings V Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the railway gatefor railway subways, showlng the gate constructed in accordance wlth theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the operating means.

Fig. 3 is a detail view of the valve, showing the same in section, forcontrolling the hydraulic or pneumatic means.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of t he valve, showing the same in anotherposition.

Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented Mar. as, 1918.

Serial No. 176,343.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of the means for holding the gateraised.

Referring more especially to the drawings, 1 designates the rails,which, as a rule, in subway railways, are arranged in the bottom of atrench, hence on the side of the rails, there is a vertical wall orsurface 2, from the upper surface or face 3 of which, the passengersstep or pass on to the cars or coaches. I

The aim of the present invention is to provide an improved gate arrangedclose to and rising upwardly from the wall 2, thereby preventingpassengers from stepping off the surface 3 and falhnginto the trench.This gate at consists of a suitable rectangular frame, which may beconstructed of any suitable material, preferably tubular or rod metal,thereby insuring strength and rigidity. This frame is suitably braced orreinforced by the intersecting rods or-wires 5. The end rods 6 of theframe are mounted in the guides 7, which are angular, as shown, and aresecured at 8 to the vertical surface or wall 2 of the trench, wherebythe angular parts may overlie the ends of the frame. Depending from thelower corners of the frame, are bifurcated lugs 9 in which rollers 10are journaled, said rollers acting to engage the vertical surface orwall 2. The gate 4, between its ends, is provided with vertical rods .orbraces 11, and their lower portions a little above thelower rod 12 ofthe gate are provided with laterally extending bifurcated lugs 13 havingrollers l4 journaled therein. These rollers 14 engage the vertical wallor surface 2, and together with the rollers 10, act to steady and guidethe gate as it rises and lowers, thereby preventlng binding and keepingthe same from wabbling. A series of suitable pneumatic cylinders 15 areprovided, and their lower end portions are arranged in the bottom of thesubway trench and mounted in the cylinders are pistons 16. Extendingupwardly from the pistons 16 are suitable rods 17, which are mounted andguided in the caps 18 of the cylinders. The upper 'ends of the pistonrods are bent laterally and are integrally or otherwise connected at 19to the upper longitudinal rod 20 of the gate. Caps 21 are threaded onthe lower ends of the cylinders, and secured to the inner face of saidcaps by means of the eyes 22 are the lower ends of the springs 23, whichact as cushions for the pistons 16 as they lower in said cylinders.Surrounding the piston rods 17 and having their lower ends secured.211324 to the pistons are coiled springs 25, which also act as cushionsfor the pistons as they rise. Adjacent one end of the gate is a suitablevalve casing, which may be supported in any suitable manner, not shown,and in the casing 26 is a two way valve 27 which iskeyed, at 28 to therevoluble valve stem 29. The stem is mounted in bearings of the casing26, which is provided with a cover 30 which is secured at 31 to thecasing thereby retaining the valve in place. An air-supply pipe 32leading from any suitable source of supply is con nected at 33 to thevalve casing, and connected with the valve casing at a diametricallyopposite point, is an outlet pipe 34. Connected to and in communicationwith the valve casing at right angles to the pipes 32 and 34:, is a pipeor tube 35 which is provided with branch tube or pipe connections 36,which are in turn connected to and in communication with the upper endportions of the pneumatic cylinders 15, at points above the pistons 16.Also connected to and in communication with the casing 26, at a pointdiametrically opposite the connection of the pipe 35, is another pipe37, which has a portion 38 arranged adjacent the lower ends of thecylinders 15. This portion 38 is provided with branch tubes or pipes 39connected to and in communication with the lower end parts of saidcylinders 15. The revoluble valve 27 has its passages 40 and 41arranged, so as to put the supply pipe 32 alternately in communicationwith the pipes 37 and 35, whereby the gate may be raised and lowered.For instance, when the gate is raised, the valve 27 is disposed as shownin Fig. 3, in which case, air passes into the pipe 37 through the duct40, thence into the lower portion of the cylinders 15 under said pistons16, thereby moving the pistons upwardly, raising the gate to theposition shown in Fig. 1. In order that the lower rod 12 may engagebetween any two adjacent teeth of the detent wheel 44 when the gateapproaches its limit on being raised, the electromagnet is energized'byclosing the switch 50, so as to suck or draw the rod or core downwardlyto release the star wheel, in which case the wheel is free to rotate sothat the rod 12 may enga ge between any two adjacent teeth thereof.

-When the gate is being so raised, the air above the pistons 16 passesout through the pipe 35, through the duct 41, and out through the pipe34 to the atmosphere. In order to lower the gate, the valve 27 isincense turned, whereby the duct 41 will communicate with the pipes 32and 35, and the duct 10 in communication with the pipes 37 and 34:. Theair will then pass from the pipe 32 through the passage 11 in to thepipe 35 and thence into the cylinders. 15 above the pistons 16, pushingthe pistons downwardly and lowering the gate, and in this case, the airbelow the pistons 16 will pass out through the pipe 37,, through theduct 40 ot' the valve 24', and thence through the pipe 3%. Mounted inbearings 42 of the vertical wall or surface 2, is a shaft 43 having astar wheel 44, between any two adjacent teeth of which, the lower rod ofthe gate is designed to engage. Also supported on wall 2 by means of abracket 45, is an electro-magnet 16 having a plunger or core 4:7. Asuitable collar 48 is carried by the core or plunger, and interposedbetween the collar and the end of the electro-magnet is a spring 49,whereby the end of the core or plunger is held between any two adjacentteeth of the star wheel, thereby preventing the same from rotating, andby this construction, the gate is held in a raised position in such wiseas to prevent pressure thereon from overcoming the pneumatic pressure.In order to permit the gate to lower incident to the pneumatic pressureabove the 16, the electromagnet is allowed to ecome energized, therebysucking the core plunger t? downwardly through the magnet against theaction of the spring 49, thereby disengaging the end of the core fromthe star.

wheel. The electromagnet is electrically connected to a suitable switchor push but ton 50, by means of the wires 51 and battery 52.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and usefulis 1. In combination with a side wall of a subway trench, spaced guidessecured to said side wall, a gate having its ends guided in said guides,the ends of the gate and intermediate portions of said gate havingrollers engaging said side wall, pneumatic cylinders, pistons mountedtherein and having piston rods connected to the upper part of the gate,and means for supplying a pressure medium on either side of said pistonsfor raising and lowering them, and consequently correspondingly movingthe gate and supporting the same in its raised and lowered positions.

2. In a device as set forth, a vertically movable gate adapted to bearranged adjacent a side wall of a subway trench, guiding means for theends of said gate, antifrictional rollers carried by the gate andengaging said side wall, pneumatic cylinders, pistons mounted thereinand having piston rods connected to the upper part of the gate, meansfor supplying a pressure meistons dium on either side of the pistons tomove the gate vertically and support the same in different adjustedpositions, and an electrically controlled device having a toothed 5wheel to engage the lower bar of the gate to assist in supporting thegate in a raised position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

CARL ALBERT WEST.

Witnesses:

SOMERLEY C. FoLLANsBnn, EARLE B. DAVIS.

